15．In China，chain restaurants-especially the big multinational ones-are cool．Going to Starbucks，for example，is a status symbol．It not only says，"I'm rich enough to buy this overpriced coffee，"but also，"I'm cosmopolitan （见多识广的） enough to be part of globalization．"
Where I come from in the UK，however，chains are neither fashionable nor gourmet（美食的）．Chains are where you go on New Year's Day when nowhere else is open，or when you are 5years old and your parents can't stand hearing，"I'm huuuuuungry!"any longer．In my own case （with regards to McDonald's），a chain is where you are taken on your first"date"．Even at the age of 13，I knew to give the guy the"let's just be friends"phone call the next day．
In the UK，independent cafes and restaurants are making a comeback on the fashion scene．Nowadays，a Londoner who says"let's meet for a coffee at Monmouth"（an independent cafe） is much cooler than one who says"let's go to Starbucks"．Even if Monmouth's coffee is a little more expensive，there's a satisfaction in knowing your pounds aren't going straight to the big corporations．
Of course，there are chain stores all over the UK； you can't go five minutes without spotting a Costa Coffee．But numbers do not add up to good taste．
I do，however，have a confession （坦白）．After moving to China I had moments when all the rice and Kung Pao Chicken became too much．I，too，have retreated to McDonald's．
24．Many Chinese people like to go to multinational chain restaurants becauseC．
A．the restaurants give customers a taste of foreign culture
B．the restaurants offer different food and drinks from other restaurants
C．they believe that eating there will show their wealth and social status
D．these restaurants are perfect places for a romantic date
25．Which of the following statements is TRUE？C
A．The author has grown tired of Chinese food．
B．Branches of Monmouth's cafe can be found all over the UK．
C．Most independent stores are closed on New Year's Day in the UK．
D．It is cool in the UK to take your first date to a chain restaurant．
26．We can infer from the article thatD．
A．the author doesn't like food from Pizza Hut
B．the author doesn't like to follow fashion trends
C．many Britons think that numbers mean poor quality
D．many Britons don't like big corporations
27．What does the underlined word （in the last paragraph） mean？D
A．adapted
B．contributed
C．subscribed
D．switched．
分析 很多中国人喜欢去星巴克，主要是想炫耀自己的财富和社会地位，在英国人们并不喜欢星巴克这样的连锁餐厅，他们更愿意去另外一些有独特风格的餐厅．
解答 24-27 CCDD
24．答案C．推理判断题．根据第三段（Going to Starbucks，for example，is a status symbol．It not only says，"I'm rich enough to buy this overpriced coffee"…）可以看出很多中国人认为去跨国连锁餐厅用餐意味着你有钱且有社会地位．因此选C．
25．答案C．推理判断题．根据第四段（Chains are where you go on New Year's Day when nowhere else is open，…）可以看出英国人在新年没地方可去的时候会去连锁餐厅，可见大部分独立餐厅新年的时候会关门．因此选C．
26．答案D．推理判断题．根据第五段（Even if Monmouth's coffee is a little more expensive，there's a satisfaction in knowing your pounds aren't going straight to the big corporations．）可以看出英国人不喜欢大公司．因此选D．
27．答案D．词义猜测题．句子的"however"是关键词．根据文章最后一段I do，however，have a confession（坦白）．After moving to China I had moments when all the rice and Kung Pao Chicken became too much．I，too，have retreated to McDonald's．作者原来并不喜欢星巴克之类的连锁店，但是他要坦白的是，来到中国以后，吃了太多的宫保鸡丁，他还是转变去吃了麦当劳．他去吃麦当劳主要因为饮食不习惯的问题．所以该词"retreated"意为"改变、改变"．故D项正确．
点评 阅读理解解题技巧：1．迅速将整篇文章分解，理出文章结构；2．迅速抓住文章叙述的主题；3．迅速找出各部分的中心意思，并找出表达中心意思的句子．
